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Small D. WEst Injury Update

Mar 25, 2011, 12:34 AM EDT

UPDATE March 25, 12:34 am: The Hornets are officially calling this “left knee trauma” (which is a pretty scary term) but said in a release that the X-rays are negative. He will have an MRI before the team discusses the severity of the injury.

Al Jefferson of the Jazz said he hopes he is wrong but to him it looked like the injury was major and compared it to when Jefferson tore his ACL, reports Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake City Tribune via twitter. If you’ve seen the video it’s hard to think it is anything but something serious.

March 24, 11:31 pm: This looked horrible, sickeningly bad. We can only hope the actual injury the Hornets leading scorer David West isn’t as bad as it looked.

With the Hornets down two and 10 seconds left against Utah, West started a drive from the left wing and got to the basket, where Paul Millsap came to challenge but was late. West tied the game at 103-103 with a dunk.

But he landed awkwardly on his left leg and West’s knee buckled under him in one of those ways that makes all of us watching the replay just cringe. One of those where a knee is not meant to bend that way.

West fell next to the station and while play continued on you could hear West on the broadcast screaming in pain. Team medical staff came out and he was eventually taken off the floor in a wheelchair.

We do not know the extent of the injuries but check PBT for updates as we get them.

This injury could have big playoff implications. The Hornets are currently the seven seed in the Western Conference but just half a game ahead of the Grizzlies in the in the eight spot. The Rockets are 2.5 games back in the nine seed and missing the playoffs all together. Obviously, the Hornets are not the same team if West cannot play.

Also, West was expected to opt out of the $7.5 million he was owed next season and test the free agent market. Where he would have attracted a lot of suitors. If this is serious it could change all of that.

We hope, for West and the Hornets’ sake, it’s not as bad as it looked.

Re: Small D. WEst Injury Update

I was thinking it could be a patella injury which would be very serious. Especially after seeing Jefferson's reaction when he looks over at him on the floor.

From what I could see, I don't think it's a patella injury. A broken patella is usually due to a hit coming perpendicular to the bone or, I'd say rarely since I've never seen it, due to massive muscular contraction (especially the quadriceps, with the force coming to the patella through the patellar tendon). I've seen West's injury just once and briefly, but it looks like his knee gave in when he came to the ground with violence, thus causing the fibula to slice behind his axis more abruptly than commonly sustainable: that's a common way you tear your PCL, and, with the elastic force coming forward, the ACL is involved more often than not.

Maybe you meant the patellar tendon? Could be, but that usually happens on a chronically inflammated tendon to begin with (due to micro vascular trauma), which is in itself an annoying injury that causes the player to shut it down once in awhile. I don't remember West having those kind of issues, but maybe he does and we can't know it.

Re: Small D. WEst Injury Update

Idk the same exact thing happened to me so my bet is a MCL or ACL tear. He just better hope it is MCL because MCL tears can be fixed a lot easier and the healing process is much more quick. When you tear your ACL your whole leg basically re-aligns the muscles (atleast this is what the doctor told me). And what is even worse is that your quad basically goes away. I am 9 weeks after my knee reconstructive surgery and I still do not fully have my quad back and I am hard core working out at physical therapy 3 times a week and my right quad is still a marshmellow compared to my left leg. So basically all of the time he has spent his whole life building up his left legs hamstring, quad, and somewhat of his calf is now gone if he tore his ACL. In my thinking his career is basically over or he will never be the same again if it is the ACL. Really feel bad for the guy cause I feel his pain.

Re: Small D. WEst Injury Update

So if I post 4 videos of young players jumping and landing and not injurying themselves does that mean I prove my point too?
Just because you have point out exceptions does not make it the rule.
Just Sayin...

Re: Small D. WEst Injury Update

Dude are you serious rightnow????? Just wow. Just saying I am a personal example and before the injury I ran everyday and worked out so obviously I have strong legs. It was a freak accident and in freak accidents it doesn't matter how strong you are cause I'm pretty sure West has way stronger legs then I do. Give it rest already.

Re: Small D. WEst Injury Update

Dude are you serious rightnow????? Just wow. Just saying I am a personal example and before the injury I ran everyday and worked out so obviously I have strong legs. It was a freak accident and in freak accidents it doesn't matter how strong you are cause I'm pretty sure West has way stronger legs then I do. Give it rest already.

I have a personal example too. When I was younger I could land awkward or have players crash into my knees and have them bend in ways they are not supposed to but never got hurt because of it. Younger knees generally have more give. But nowdays approaching 30, I injured my MCL just jumping off my porch taking a short cut to the car. I know that **** happened because I'm much older and my knees don't give as well. Its just life catching up.